1
End-of-year player grades: How the All Blacks loose forwards rated in 2020
As the All Blacks season comes to a close with the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations title in tow, we look back on how members of Ian Foster’s squad fared over the course of the year.
ADVERTISEMENT
In the second of four instalments, we assess the campaigns of the loose forwards in the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations campaigns and give them an old-fashioned school report card grading for their efforts.
Sam Cane: A
Appearances: 6
Points scored: 10 (2 tries)
Often a focal point for criticism from fans and media in 2020, Sam Cane did himself justice with his performances on the park.
There are bound to be people still offended by his honest take that fans don’t know as much about rugby as they think they do, but the fact of the matter is the skipper is the best defender and probably the best leader in New Zealand.
Cane’s defensive tenacity never falters and the vigour in his tackling hardly wavers, and this is reflected in his season stats where he finished with the most tackles in the team (85), 11 of which were dominant hits, while he also stole the most turnovers (eight).
While his side badly underperformed at times, the manner of which Cane led them to a bounce back whitewash of Los Pumas in Newcastle shows his actions speak louder than words – regardless of how they are received publicly.
It hasn’t been a vintage All Blacks season by any means, but that’s not to say none of their players will be in the running for the World Rugby Player of the Year award. #AllBlacks https://t.co/hzfw6vr3M7
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 1, 2020
Akira Ioane: A-
Appearances: 2
Points scored: 0
Akira Ioane’s efforts this year may well have been enough to see him lockdown the national No. 6 jersey heading into next year.
ADVERTISEMENT
That’s quite an accomplishment for someone who many thought would never make the All Blacks set-up again, had less than half an hour to prove his worth while starting on test debut, and only played in two of New Zealand’s six matches this season.
It’s a testament to his work rate, defence, ball-carrying and ability at both the set piece and breakdown, then, that Ioane has received such a glowing scorecard, and there should be plenty more to come in the coming years.
Ardie Savea: B
Appearances: 5
Points scored: 0
A nominee for World Rugby Player of the Year last year, 2020 didn’t prove to be quite as fruitful for Ardie Savea in his five tests, although his damaging ball-carrying exploits were still evident throughout the international season.
The Wallabies felt the full brunt of his powerful attacking brute in Brisbane, while his defensive quality was evident in the fact that he missed just two of his 48 tackle attempts and won the team’s second-equal-most turnovers (five) this year.
ADVERTISEMENT
But, there were times it felt there was a touch of inconsistency in his game, as it seemed the following week against the Pumas.
In all fairness, every All Blacks player in that game failed to deliver, but with stern competition from Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu for Savea to keep his place in the starting side, big things will be expected in 2021.
Hoskins Sotutu: B
Appearances: 5
Points scored: 0
An explosive campaign for the Blues this year set the tone for a promising rookie test season for Hoskins Sotutu, and while he didn’t exactly reach his Super Rugby heights in the black jersey, he looks a mainstay in the All Blacks for years to come.
He didn’t look out of depth at any stage of the Bledisloe Cup or Tri-Nations, and looked the goods as a starting prospect in the 43-5 romp of the Wallabies at No. 8, managing to bag a pair of try assists for Karl Tu’inukuafe and Rieko Ioane.
View this post on Instagram
One blemish, though, came in the loss to Los Pumas, where he – and all his teammates – were lost for ideas, as evidenced by Sotutu’s enthusiastic but poorly executed cameo off the bench where he left a try begging with a bad pass in the dying stages.
However, all in all, there should be little room for complaint, and Sotutu could stand as a genuine starting prospect this time next year if he continues to develop like he has in 2020.
Shannon Frizell: C
Appearances: 4
Points scored: 0
The fact that Ioane has likely overtaken Shannon Frizell as New Zealand’s first-choice blindside flanker in just two tests gives you all you need to know regarding his lowly scorecard.
It’s not as if Frizell was especially poor across the campaign, although his fragile mentality shown against Argentina, a tackle low tackle success rate of 83 percent and a total of nine turnovers from penalties and general play are points of concern.
Regardless, it’s not as if he thrust himself in any great manner to stake a claim as New Zealand’s long-term No. 6, not in the same way that Ioane has done, leaving the 13-test flanker with a big hurdle to overcome heading into 2021.
Dalton Papalii: C
Appearances: 1
Points scored: 0
The absence of Savea from the opening round of the Tri-Nations gave Dalton Papalii a rare chance in the All Blacks’ match day 23, starting from the bench in Bledisloe III.
In just his fourth test since making his international debut at the end of 2018, the 23-year-old was granted only 12 minutes off the bench in Sydney for his season’s work.
It follows the three minutes he was given against the Springboks last year to unsuccessfully prove his case to make the World Cup squad, and while his powerful talents remain undoubted, Papalii needs more game time to realise his potential in test rugby.
Cullen Grace: N/A
Appearances: 1
Points scored: 0
He may have won his test debut off the bench in Bledisloe IV, but it’s very hard to give Cullen Grace a fair scorecard on the back of just two minutes of international rugby when he didn’t touch the ball and didn’t make a tackle.
Still, the 20-year-old loose forward showed great impetus and looked eager to get stuck in when he was called upon, but it would have been nice to see him get more game time.
View this post on Instagram
Du’Plessis Kirifi: N/A
Appearances: 0
Points scored: 0
Wellington flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi was pulled from the Mitre 10 Cup to travel to Australia as cover for Savea, who missed the week of the Tri-Nations through paternity leave.
However, as was the case for Otago prop George Bower and Canterbury lock Mitchell Dunshea, Kirifi never featured for the All Blacks, raising questions over whether his precautionary inclusion was necessary at all.
Comments on RugbyPass
Dear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith (He/She/They/IT)
218 Go to commentsHuge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
218 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
9 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
44 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
15 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
44 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
5 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
7 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
218 Go to commentsSux that homophobia is still a thing though. I wonder how many players who could have become legends never kept playing rugby because they felt unwelcome.
7 Go to commentsCrazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
7 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
7 Go to commentsHonest, discipline, humility… Priceless.
2 Go to commentsSo many excuses. No mention of the SA number 2 being taken out illegally in the 2nd minute. That act of foul play had a massive impact on the SA game. Face it, NZ play pretty dirty very regularly, and it’s only since 2016 they’ve been held to higher officiating standards via stricter officiating and TMO reviews. They deserved to have a man down. Sorry. Fix the yellow and red cards and NZ will win more RWCs. Plus, there WAS a knock on invalidating the one try, so it was NOT a try. Period. Here’s a Kleenex…
218 Go to commentsOverheard conversation between NZ and SA rugby fans everywhere: We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! We’re the greatest! No we’re the greatest! Ireland are arrogant! True but they beat you! We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! Etc. etc, etc.
44 Go to commentsTypical crap Aussie weather
11 Go to comments“If they’d have beaten England, I still feel we would have been talking ‘is this the best team ever,’ ‘is this the best team that’s ever played in the Six Nations'” he said. “I still think they’re not quite that good. I actually don’t think they’re that good.” So Trimble is saying he doesn’t think this is the best 6N team of all time. He is silent on if it is the best Irish team of all time. Can’t disagree with him. Just another misrepresentative clickbait headline from the guys at RP.
44 Go to comments